YOW - PHL - MAD: @BesideU_Canada Backpack's International #Travel

MY Beside-U Minneapolis Backpack Goes On A Travel Adventure.

Madrid MAD - Philadelphia PHL - Boston BOS - Ottawa YOW 

4 Airports - 4 Cities - 2 Airlines - 5 Flights - 3 Hotels

But wait ... I did say MY backpack. So how did it manage to go with Thing 2 to Spain? Good question! The story goes something like this: The door bell rings ... Me: "Oh look my Beside U Minneapolis Backpack has arrived!" Thing 2: "Thanks, mine now!" and runs away. He immediately packs it with all his school notes, laptop, tablet and textbooks, then quickly hides it in his room. For the next month I only catch quick glimpses of MY backpack as he walks out the door for school, until we drop him (and it) at the airport for his trip to Spain. His first solo trip abroad, without one of his parents. I admit I was a bit nervous about this trip, and all the things that might go wrong.

The RFID guarded pocket in MY backpack reduced my worry about Thing 2's debit card information being scanned and stolen. The RFID guarded pocket is big enough to easily hold his wallet and passport.  This was important since he had only taken a limited amount of cash and his debit card was his only way to access the rest of his funds. 

MY backpack was perfect as a carry-on, being lightweight, with lots of compartments and pockets Thing 2 easily organized all the items he'd need for his trip and to keep up on his school work while travelling. It has a separate pocket for his laptop and his tablet, and still room for his camera, snacks, water bottle, and a travel blanket. Being organized means he's less likely to lose or forget items along the way. Just saying ... in my experience teens aren't always the best at keeping track of their stuff, so any help they can get is a good thing.

Once there he could load MY backpack up with all the items he needed for the day: Hat, camera, phone, jacket, sunscreen, sunglasses ... or in the words of Thing 2.

• "It's smallish (that's a good thing) and has separate pouch for laptop and tablet. It's lightweight and I can fit all my stuff in it." 
• "I like the style, it's plain (or understated, also a good thing) and not too busy, but still looks good." 
• "You can tell thought went into both the exterior and interior design, and the quality." 

My brain auto-translates everything Thing 2 says into Mom speak, so I actually heard this: 

• Nice simple design that incorporates lots of compartments without looking too busy.
• It has a strong, light-weight water-resistant exterior.
• I like all the pockets and compartments, including two large exterior pockets each with a smaller zipped compartment on the pocket flaps, that makes staying organized easy.
• Separate interior sleeves to protect a laptop (up to 15 inches) and a tablet. Finally somewhere to put a tablet.
• Interior RFID guarded zipped pocket large enough to fit a wallet, to protect against identity theft, and blocks RFID signals from being unknowingly scanned.
• Padded adjustable straps and top carrying handle.

Lightweight, just the right size and oh so stylish. 

Just look how it strikes a pose all over Madrid! 

Check out this sweet ride! 

Found some great bars in Madrid - and by bars I mean bars on this fence. 

Me and this great view! We look Marvellous! 

Just hanging out taking in the street culture in Madrid. 

I love my son but trying to get him to articulate what he liked about this backpack is an exercise in frustration. Thing 2 is a man of few words, but his actions speak volumes. He took this backpack almost three months ago and has used it continually since then, for school, night school, on weekends when he's out with his friends, and yes to Madrid and back. I originally chose this style for a conference I attended in April, but I probably could have predicted it being confiscated by Thing 2 when I chose it. He was beside me giving unsolicited opinions on which backpack I should choose.

It was good advice because this style is very versatile, well suited to multiple purposes, and appeals to both genders and across generations. Like Mother - Like Son: We both had a hard time deciding which of the many great Beside U Canada products to pick, we both were impressed with how fast it was delivered, we were both impressed with the design and quality of the Minneapolis backpack and both Mother and Son give it two thumbs up.

Stay up to date on all Beside U Canada products at their website, and on twitter and facebook.

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about MY Beside U Canada backpack. 

Note: I received a BesideU Canada Minneapolis Backpack for the purpose of this and my Ode to My Minneapolis Backpack post. All opinions are my own and reflect my personal experience with the brand and product.